San Francisco Bay Area Sports brings together fifteen essays covering the issues, controversies, and personalities that have emerged as northern Californians recreated and competed over the last 150 years. The area’s diversity, anti-establishment leanings, and unique and beautiful natural surroundings are explored in the context of a dynamic sporting past that includes events broadcast to millions or activities engaged in by just a few. Professional and college events are covered along with lesser-known entities such as Oakland’s public parks, tennis player and Bay Area native Rosie Casals, environmentalism and hiking in Marin County, and the origins of the Gay Games. Taken as a whole, this book clarifies how sport is connected to identities based on sexuality, gender, race, and ethnicity. Just as crucial, the stories here illuminate how sport and recreation can potentially create transgressive spaces, particularity in a place known for its nonconformity.

The Bay Area is home to multiple popular franchises in all four major sports - the 49ers and Raiders (NFL), Giants and A's (MLB), Kings and Warriors (NBA), and Sharks (NHL). With such diversity in rooting interest, area fans have much to debate all year long, and prominent Bay Area sports-radio host Damon Bruce is just the man to get the debate going with this entertaining book of original sports and entertainment lists. Bruce also enlists the help of such notable local stars to contribute their own lists, including Orlando Cepeda, Brent Jones, Gary Radnich, Drew Remeda, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, and more.

Celebrate the championship glory, Hall of Fame personalities, and passionate fans that make the San Francisco 49ers one of the most beloved franchises in football The oldest professional sports team in the Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers have thrilled their loyal fans for seven and a half decades. Founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference, the 49ers joined the NFL when the leagues merged in 1949. Playing in old Kezar Stadium at in Golden Gate Park, the 49ers found fleeting success in their early years, reaching the playoffs just once in the 1950s and '60s. From those humble beginnings emerged one of the NFL's most successful franchises. Seven Super Bowl appearances, five Super Bowl victories. A head coach in Bill Walsh who forever changed the sport. And a roster of Hall of Famers: Y.A. Tittle, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and more. Sports Illustrated™ celebrates the franchise with The San Francisco 49ers at 75, an extraordinary collection of classic stories and photographs from the pages of SI. This commemorative book also solutes, in words and pictures, the 49ers' dedicated fans. From Kezar to Candlestick to Levi's, fans will unearth golden nuggets from the 49ers's past on each page of this diamond celebration.

The Bay Area is home to multiple popular franchises in all four major sports -- the 49ers and Raiders (NFL), Giants and A's (MLB), Kings and Warriors (NBA), and Sharks (NHL). With such diversity in rooting interest, area fans have much to debate all year long, and prominent Bay Area sports-radio host Damon Bruce is just the man to get the debate going with this entertaining book of original sports and entertainment lists. Bruce also enlists the help of such notable local stars to contribute their own lists, including Orlando Cepeda, Brent Jones, Gary Radnich, Drew Remeda, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, and more.

Roller Derby found a home in the San Francisco Bay Area following its Depression-era Chicago origins. An early television sensation, it faded to a modest existence in Los Angeles during the 1950s. Creator Leo Seltzer turned the game over to his son Jerry, who repositioned the traveling Bay Bombers from their home terrain of San Francisco to Fresno and everywhere in-between...However, economic and cultural changes closed the Roller Derby in 1973. Passionate fans clung tenaciously to its memory. In the 21st century, the game made an astonishing return not only in Northern California but also worldwide -- Publisher's description.